Some people think that shops shouldn’t be allowed to sell food or drink that has been scientifically proven to be bad for people’s health.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Some people think that shops shouldn’t be allowed to sell food or drink that has been scientifically proven to be bad for people’s health.

Banning shops from selling scientifically proven unhealthy food and drink - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Do you agree or disagree ?

Write at least 250 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 8 · 369 words.

In an era where public health crises such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are on the rise, the debate over whether shops should be permitted to sell scientifically unhealthy food and drink items has gained significant traction. While the intention behind banning harmful consumables is rooted in protecting the population, I argue that an outright prohibition is neither practical nor entirely justifiable. Instead, a more balanced approach that includes regulation, education, and consumer responsibility would be more effective.

To begin with, enforcing a ban on unhealthy food and drinks presents numerous logistical and ethical challenges. Firstly, determining which products qualify as "scientifically harmful" is complex and often contentious. For example, moderate consumption of sugar or saturated fats is not necessarily detrimental, yet excessive intake is clearly associated with negative health outcomes. The subjectivity in defining "harmful" could lead to inconsistent enforcement and legal disputes. Furthermore, banning such items could be perceived as an overreach of governmental authority, infringing upon individual freedom of choice in democratic societies.

Moreover, the availability of unhealthy food is not the sole driver of poor public health; rather, it is often the lack of awareness and education surrounding nutrition that exacerbates the issue. Instead of eliminating choice, governments and health organizations should prioritize transparent labeling, public awareness campaigns, and incentives for healthier alternatives. Empowering individuals with knowledge allows them to make informed decisions while preserving personal agency — a cornerstone of modern consumer societies.

That said, it would be irresponsible to allow the free market to operate unchecked in this context. Strategic regulation — such as imposing taxes on sugary beverages, restricting junk food advertising to children, and mandating clearer ingredient disclosure — can help steer public behavior without resorting to outright bans. Such policies have already shown measurable success in countries like the UK and Mexico.

In conclusion, while the health risks associated with certain foods and drinks are undeniable, banning their sale entirely is not a proportionate response. A combination of intelligent regulation, public education, and individual accountability offers a more sustainable and ethically sound solution to improving public health outcomes. Limiting choice may seem effective in the short term, but enabling informed choice is the true foundation of long-term societal change

Examiner feedback

This is an exceptionally strong essay that addresses the prompt with mature, nuanced arguments and sophisticated language control. All criteria are met at a high level, resulting in a cohesive, persuasive, and grammatically polished response.

Task Response - 8

- Fully addresses all parts of the task by evaluating the proposition and presenting a well-reasoned counter-position. - Presents a well-developed response with relevant, fully extended, and strongly supported ideas. - Maintains a clear, consistent position throughout with a natural concluding synthesis.

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

- Sequences information and ideas logically with a clear overall progression throughout the essay. - Skilfully manages paragraphing, ensuring each body paragraph has a distinct central topic. - Uses a sophisticated range of cohesive devices and referencing naturally without mechanical repetition.

Lexical Resource - 8

- Uses a wide and precise range of vocabulary fluently to convey nuanced meanings (e.g., 'outright prohibition', 'overreach of governmental authority', 'personal agency'). - Demonstrates natural control of collocations and less common lexical items. - Spelling and word formation are immaculate.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- Utilizes a wide range of complex sentence structures with high flexibility and accuracy. - The vast majority of sentences are completely error-free with excellent syntactic control. - Punctuation and grammatical markers are handled with professional precision.

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